Lavandula plant named ‘Anouk Deluxe 16115’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Lavandula  plant named ‘Anouk Deluxe 16115’, characterized by its compact, upright and broadly spreading plant habit; freely branching growth habit; freely flowering habit; dark purple-colored flowers and bright purple-colored terminal flower bracts positioned on strong and erect peduncles; long flowering period; and good garden performance.

Botanical designation: Lavandula stoechas.

Cultivar denomination: ‘ANOUK DELUXE 16115’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct Lavandula plant, botanically known as Lavandula stoechas, commonly referred to as Lavender and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘Anouk Deluxe 16115’.

The new Lavandula plant is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the Inventor in Boskoop, The Netherlands. The objective of the breeding program was to develop new unique Lavandula plants with good performance and attractive plant form and flower coloration.

The new Lavandula plant originated from a cross-pollination in May, 2015 of Lavandula stoechas ‘Anouk Deluxe 108’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 31,930, as the female, or seed, parent with Lavandula stoechas ‘Anouk Deluxe 1201’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 28,265, as the male, or pollen, parent. The new Lavandula plant was discovered and selected by the Inventor as a single flowering plant within the progeny of the stated cross-pollination in a controlled environment in Boskoop, The Netherlands in July, 2016.

Asexual reproduction of the new Lavandula plant by terminal cuttings in a controlled greenhouse environment in Boskoop, The Netherlands since September, 2016 has shown that the unique features of this new Lavandula plant are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Lavandula have not been observed under all possible combinations of environmental conditions and cultural practices. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environmental conditions such as temperature and light intensity, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of the new Lavandula plant. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘Anouk Deluxe 16115’ as a new and distinct Lavandula plant:

-   -   1. Compact, upright and broadly spreading plant habit.     -   2. Freely branching growth habit.     -   3. Freely flowering habit.     -   4. Dark purple-colored flowers and bright purple-colored         terminal flower bracts positioned on strong and erect peduncles.     -   5. Long flowering period.     -   6. Good garden performance.

Plants of the new Lavandula differ primarily from plants of the female parent, ‘Anouk Deluxe 108’, primarily in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Lavandula are not as compact as plants of         ‘Anouk Deluxe 108’.     -   2. Plants of the new Lavandula have longer leaves than plants of         ‘Anouk Deluxe 108’.     -   3. Plants of the new Lavandula have darker purple-colored         terminal flower bracts than plants of ‘Anouk Deluxe 108’.

Plants of the new Lavandula differ primarily from plants of the male parent, ‘Anouk Deluxe 1201’, primarily in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Lavandula have narrower leaves than plants         of ‘Anouk Deluxe 1201’.     -   2. Plants of the new Lavandula have darker purple-colored         terminal flower bracts than plants of ‘Anouk Deluxe 1201’.

Plants of the new Lavandula can be compared to plants of the Lavandula stoechas ‘Anouk’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 16,685. In side-by-side comparisons, plants of the new Lavandula differ primarily from plants of ‘Anouk’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Lavandula are more compact than plants of         ‘Anouk’.     -   2. Leaves of plants of the new Lavandula are broader and more         greyish green in color than leaves of plants of ‘Anouk’.     -   3. Plants of the new Lavandula have darker purple-colored         terminal flower bracts than plants of ‘Anouk’.

Plants of the new Lavandula can also be compared to plants of the Lavandula stoechas ‘Toscane’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 18,046. In side-by-side comparisons, plants of the new Lavandula differ primarily from plants of ‘Toscane’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Lavandula are more compact than plants of         ‘Toscane’.     -   2. Leaves of plants of the new Lavandula are broader and more         greyish green in color than leaves of plants of ‘Toscane’.     -   3. Plants of the new Lavandula have darker purple-colored         terminal flower bracts than plants of ‘Toscane’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photographs illustrate the overall appearance of the new Lavandula plant showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors of the new Lavandula plant.

The photograph on the first sheet (FIG. 1 ) is a side perspective view of a typical flowering plant of ‘Anouk Deluxe 16115’ grown in a container.

The photograph on the second sheet (FIG. 2 ) is a side perspective view of a typical inflorescence of ‘Anouk Deluxe 16115’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

Plants used in the aforementioned photographs and following detailed description were grown in 17-cm containers during the spring in a glass-covered greenhouse in Boskoop, The Netherlands and under cultural practices typical of commercial Lavandula production. Plants were pinched one time and were ten months old when the photographs and description were taken. During the production of the plants, day temperatures ranged from 10° C. to 30° C. and night temperatures ranged from 5° C. to 20° C. In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 2015 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Lavandula stoechas ‘Anouk Deluxe 16115’. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Lavandula stoechas ‘Anouk Deluxe             108’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 31,930.         -   Male, or pollen, parent.—Lavandula stoechas ‘Anouk Deluxe             1201’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 28,265. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type.—Terminal vegetative cuttings.         -   Time to initiate roots, summer and winter.—About ten days at             temperatures about 18° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer.—About 60 days             at temperatures about 20° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, winter.—About 70 days             at temperatures about 20° C.         -   Root description.—Fine, fibrous; initially white in color             and becoming more brown with development; actual color of             the roots is dependent on substrate composition, water             quality, fertilizer type and formulation.         -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching; dense. -   Plant description:     -   -   Plant and growth habit.—Herbaceous perennial; compact,             upright and broadly spreading plant habit; globular to             flattened globular in overall plant shape; freely branching             habit; moderately vigorous growth habit; moderate growth             rate; flowers arranged in verticillasters on crowded spikes             with showy terminal flower bracts.         -   Plant height, soil level to top of foliar plane.—About 21.8             cm.         -   Plant height, soil level to top of floral plane.—About 27             cm.         -   Plant width.—About 35.8 cm.         -   Lateral branch description.—Quantity per plant: About seven             primary lateral branches and about 60 secondary lateral             branches developing per plant; pinching enhances branching             potential. Length: About 9 cm. Diameter: About 1.75 mm.             Internode length: About 1.6 cm. Strength: Moderately strong.             Aspect: Primary lateral branches, upright to about 90° from             vertical; secondary lateral branches, about 20° from primary             lateral branch axis. Texture and luster: Moderately to             densely tomentose; matte. Color, when developing: Close to             145A. Color, developed: Close to 143A and 145B; with             development, close to 199A.         -   Leaf description.—Arrangement and quantity: Opposite,             simple; sessile; about twelve leaves per lateral branch.             Length: About 3.9 cm. Width: About 5 mm. Shape: Narrowly             oblong to narrowly oblanceolate, flat. Apex: Acute. Base:             Cuneate. Margin: Entire; slightly revolute; not lobed.             Texture and luster, upper and lower surfaces: Moderately             tomentose; not rugose; matte. Fragrance: Strongly aromatic,             pungent. Venation pattern: Pinnate. Color: Developing             leaves, upper surface: Close to 138A. Developing leaves,             lower surface: Close to 137B. Fully expanded leaves, upper             surface: Close to NN137C; venation, close to 146B. Fully             expanded leaves, lower surface: Close to 137B; venation,             close to 138B. -   Flower description:     -   -   Flower type, arrangement and habit.—Small single salverform             flowers arranged in compact verticillasters on crowded             terminal spikes; freely flowering, about 100 flowers             developing per inflorescence and more than 10,000 flowers             developing per plant; flowers with two-lobed upper lip and             three-lobed lower lip; flowers face mostly outwardly on the             spike; inflorescences with showy terminal flower bracts.         -   Natural flowering season.—Long flowering period; continuous             from late spring into the summer in The Netherlands; plants             begin flowering about 13 weeks after planting.         -   Flower longevity on the plant.—Individual flowers last about             four weeks on the plant; flowers not persistent.         -   Fragrance.—None detected.         -   Flower buds.—Length: About 7 mm. Diameter: About 2.5 mm.             Shape: Elliptic. Texture and luster: Moderately tomentose;             matte. Color: Close to 199A; towards the base, close to 145B             to 145C; towards the apex, tinged with close to N186C and at             the apex, close to 60B to 60C.         -   Inflorescence size.—Height, including terminal flower             bracts: About 5 cm. Height, excluding terminal flower             bracts: About 3 cm. Diameter, at terminal flower bracts:             About 2.5 cm. Diameter, below flower bracts: About 1.6 cm.         -   Flower size.—Diameter: About 4 mm by 4 mm. Depth (height):             About 8 mm. Throat diameter: About 1 mm. Tube length: About             6 mm. Tube diameter: About 1 mm.         -   Petals.—Quantity and arrangement: Upper lip, two-lobed and             lower lip, three-lobed. Length, upper lip: About 7 mm.             Length, lower lip: About 6 mm. Width, upper lip: About             2.5 mm. Width, lower lip: About 1.5 mm. Shape: Roughly             spatulate; lower 72.5% fused into a tube. Apex: Obtuse.             Margin: Entire; slightly undulate. Texture and luster, upper             surface: Smooth, glabrous; velvety; not rugose; matte.             Texture and luster, lower surface: Smooth, glabrous;             moderately velvety; not rugose; slightly glossy. Texture,             throat: Sparsely to moderately pubescent; matte. Texture,             tube: Smooth, glabrous; matte. Color: When opening, upper             and lower surfaces: Close to between N92A and N92C. Fully             opened, upper and lower surfaces: Close to 83A to 83B;             towards the margins, close to N92A to slightly darker than             N92A; venation, similar to lamina colors; color becoming             closer to N92A to slightly darker than N92A with subsequent             development. Throat: Close to 83A to 83B; venation, close to             83A to 83B. Tube: Close to 83A to 83B fading proximally to             close to N155D; venation, close to 83A to 83B fading             proximally to close to N155D.         -   Terminal flower bracts.—Quantity and arrangement: About             seven positioned upright at inflorescence apex. Length:             About 2.2 cm. Width: About 8 mm. Shape: Narrowly obovate to             oblanceolate. Apex: Broadly acute. Base: Narrowly cuneate.             Margin: Entire; moderately to strongly undulate. Texture and             luster, upper and lower surfaces: Slightly tomentose; matte.             Color, upper surface: Close to N81B; midvein, close to 77A.             Color, lower surface: Close to N80A; midvein, close to N79B.         -   Basal flower bracts.—Quantity and arrangement: Each group of             five flowers is subtended by a single basal flower bract.             Length: About 7 mm. Width: About 7 mm. Shape: Broadly             rhomboidal. Apex: Aristate. Base: Cuneate. Margin:             Irregularly dentate. Texture and luster, upper and lower             surfaces: Densely tomentose; matte. Color, upper and lower             surfaces: Close to 64C to 64D; venation, close to 147A and             proximally, close to 146D.         -   Sepals.—Quantity and arrangement: Five, fused into a             campanulate tube. Calyx length: About 5.5 mm. Calyx             diameter: About 2 mm. Length: About 5.5 mm. Width: About             0.5 mm. Shape: Linear. Apex: Acute. Margin: Entire. Texture             and luster, upper surface: Smooth, glabrous; matte. Texture             and luster, lower surface: Densely pubescent; matte. Color:             When opening, upper surface: Close to 145D; venation, close             to 143B. When opening, lower surface: Close to 199A; towards             the base, close to 145B to 145C; towards the apex, tinged             with close to N186C and at the apex, close to 60B to 60C;             venation, similar to lamina colors. Fully opened, upper             surface: Close to 145D; venation, close to 143B. Fully             opened, lower surface: Close to 145B; towards the base,             close to 157D; towards the apex, strongly tinged with close             to N186C and at the apex, close to 64B to 64C; venation,             similar to lamina colors.         -   Peduncles.—Length: About 5.9 cm. Diameter: About 2 mm.             Aspect: Mostly upright. Strength: Strong. Texture and             luster: Moderately tomentose; matte. Color: Close to 143A             and 145B; distally, tinged with close to between N186C and             200A.         -   Reproductive organs.—Stamens: Quantity per flower: Four.             Filament length: About 1 mm. Filament color: Close to 83B.             Anther shape: Reniform; dorsifixed. Anther size: About 0.5             mm by 0.5 mm. Anther color: Close to N92A. Pollen amount:             Scarce. Pollen color: Close to 17B to 17C. Pistils: Quantity             per flower: One. Pistil length: About 4 mm. Stigma shape:             Club-shaped. Stigma diameter: About 0.5 mm. Stigma color:             Close to N92A. Style length: About 3.5 mm. Style color:             Close to 157D to lighter than 157D; proximally, close to             145D. Ovary color: Close to 144A.         -   Seeds and fruits.—To date, seed and fruit production has not             been observed on plants of the new Lavandula. -   Pathogen & pest resistance: To date, plants of the new Lavandula     have not been noted to be resistant to pathogens and pests common to     Lavandula plants. -   Garden performance: Plants of the new Lavandula have exhibited good     tolerance to rain and wind and have been observed to tolerate high     temperatures about 40° C. and to be suitable for USDA Hardiness     Zones 7 to 10. 

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct Lavandula plant named ‘Anouk Deluxe 16115’ as illustrated and described. 